Two-way band switch



Jan. 25, 1944.

R. F. Fo sTER ,TWO-WAY BAND SWITCH Filed March 17, 1942 Invent or: Raymond F. FO stern by 1 Hus "ttorney Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED TWO -WAY BAND SWITCH Raymond-F. Foster, S tratforcl, Ccnn., assignor to General Electric Company,' a corporation of' New York- Application March, 1'7, 1942, Serial No. 435,014.

5' Claims.

My invention relates toelectric switch mechanisms andparticularly-to a multiple switch mechan-ism comprising a plurality of selectively operableunit switches which are incorporated in a unitary structure and mechanically interlocked in a particular manner.

It is an important object of my invention. to provide an improved multiple electric switch mechanism having a plurality of unit switches, each of which is selectively movable between a neutral operating position and at least two other operating positions, wherein each unit switch is positively latched in place when it is moved into any selected one of these other operating positions, and wherein actuation of any selected switch automatically causes all other previouslylatched switches to be released and returned to neutral position. Although switch mechanisms embodying the invention may be found useful in many fields where selective indication or control is desired, my invention is particularly adapted to the requirements of modern radio and television receivers wherein predetermined station selection is employed. Such a receiver incorporating the herein disclosed switch structure is disclosed and claimed in copending application of George W. F'yler, Serial No. 453,821, entitled Radio receivers, and which is assigned to the. assignee of my present application.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an improved multiple electric switch of this type which is simple and compact in construction and reliable in operation.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective, view ofa switch structure embodying the, invention, in which certain structural p rts are omitted or cut away for clarity of illustration; Fig. 2. is a. fragmentary rear elevational view of the switch structure of Fig. 1; and Fig. '3 is a. vertical sectional view along the line 3,.--3 in Fig. 2, showing other details of the switch structure.

In, the illustrated embodiment of the invention the complete switch mechanism forms a unitary subassembly which is readily mounted in any desired operatingposition. As shown in Fig. 3, it is mounte in an apert r cu out f a suppor plate or panel ID. The supporting frame for the lements of the switch mechanism comprises a rectangular metal plate H formed into. a V- shaped cross section and provided with flanges 1-2 which are secured tothe panel. I!) in any suitable manner, as by screws 3. The plate H is provided with a plurality of pairs of slots M, iii lying in parallel planes normaltothe surface of theplate l i. As shown in Figs. 2 and3 the upper slot M of each pair terminates somewhat short of the apex or the V whereas the lower slot [5 terminates substantially at the apex, leaving a portion 16 between the two slots.

Each of the levers I1. is provided with a circumferentially incomplete hub portion M. It will be apparent that, during the assembly of the switch structure, the lever ll may be inserted through the upper slot 4, and the hub. l5. hooked over, the. portion It. When the lever I! is then rotated downwardly into its operating range of movement, the hub I8 is securely locked on the portion [6 which serves as the pivot. Thus, each pair of slots provides means for receiving and retaining one of the switch-actuating levers ll.

Eachv of the levers I1 is provided with a pair of arcuate arms l9. These engage the sides of the slots I4 and 1.5 to. maintain the levers ll in position, and they also. serve as supports for the pairs of centering springs 20. The function of these. springs 20 will become. more fully apparent as the description proceeds. Briefly, they. tend to move each switch-actuating lever to an intermediate, or neutral, operating position. Each of the levers shown in the drawing is represented as being in this position.

The frame plate [I has been omitted from Fig. 1 in order to. show other details of the switchactuating mechanism with greater clarity. It will also be understood that a multiple switch structure. embodying my invention may comprise any desired number oi'selectively operable unit switches. Only two such unit switch mechanisms are represented in the fragmentary views of Figs. 1 and 2, since. all of these mechanisms may be substantially identical, differing only in the arrangementv and connection of the electrical contacts associated therewith. Accordingly, refT erence numerals have been applied only to one of these unit switch mechanisms in Fig. 1.

The switch supporting frame alsocomprises end plates 25 which are integral with, or secured to, each end of the plate ll. Each of the end plates 25 is provided with a flange 26 substantially parallel to the plane of the flanges l2. Secured to these flanges 26 in any suitable manner, as by the screws 21, is the flat board 23 The board 28 is of insulating material and serves as a terminal board and supporting means for the groups of stationary contacts 29 associated with each of the unit switches.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, each unit switch is of a type particularly suited for controlling the various circuits of a radio or television receiver in which station preselection is accomplished by actuation of a selected unit switch. In its broader aspects, however, my invention is not limited to these specific uses. The details of the electrical contacts and associated structures are to be regarded merely as exemplary.

As shown, each of the unit switches comprises two vertical rows of stationary contacts 29. The movable element of each switch comprises an insulating strip 30 carrying a plurality of metallic bridging contacts 3| in alignment with the rows of stationary contacts 29. A tongue 32 on each of the actuating levers 11 engages a slot 33 in each of the insulating strips 30. Thus if any selected lever I! is oscillated between its upper and lower positions, the movable contact member 30 is reciprocated between corresponding positions and the stationary contacts 29 are interconnected in a predetermined manner depending upon their arrangement and upon the configurations of the bridging contacts 31.

A common latch plate is carried by slots in the end plate 25 for reciprocatory movement at right angles to the planes of the switch-actuating levers H. The upper rail 4| and the lower rail 42 of the latch plate 40 are connected together by transverse portions 43 near their ends, one of which is shown in Fig. l. The latch plate 40 is also provided with a plurality of transverse portions adjacent each actuating lever l1 and at one side thereof. As shown in the drawing, each of these transverse portions comprises a pair of opposed hook-shaped extensions 44 and 45. As is best shown in Fig. 2, each of the transverse extensions 44 and 45 provides a pair of complementary inclined cam surfaces arranged to engage opposite edges of the lever I! for centering it in intermediate position. The hook-shaped extensions also provide detents 48 and 49 which are arranged selectively to engage a slot 50 in the lever H for positively latching it in either of its extreme positions.

The latch plate 40 is biased into engagement with the levers H, i. e. toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1, by the compression spring 55. As shown, this spring is retained between the end plate 25 and a washer 56 by means of a pin 51 passing through an extended portion of the top rail 4|. As is evident from Figs. 1 and 3, the latch plate 49 is preferably of arcuate or V-shaped cross section to facilitate engagement of the detents 48 and 49 with the slot 50.

Each of the levers l1 extends through a slot 58 in a cover plate or panel 59 and is provided with an operating handle 60. The panel 59, which in radio or television apparatus may com prise the station indicator scale, may carry suitable indicia adjacent each of the switch operating positions.

In operation, whenever a selected lever 11 is moved either up or down from the intermediate, or neutral, position represented in the drawin engagement of the lever with one of the cam surfaces 46 or 41 first causes the latch plate 40 to be moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, against the action of the spring 55. As the slot 59 in the selected lever I1 nears engagement with one of the detents 48 or 49, it will be apparent that the latch bar 40 is in such position that each of the pairs of detents is just tangent to the path of movement of the cooperating lever. Consequently the latch plate 40 is eifectively disengaged from all other levers irrespective of Whether they were previously in their intermediate positions or in one of their extreme positions.

The individual centering springs 20 associated With each lever I! are strong enough to return the lever, and the movable contact member 30 actuated thereby, toward neutral position from either extreme position upon disengagement of the lever from the latch plate 40. Accordingly, movement of any selected lever between its neutral position and either extreme position first causes all other levers to be returned to their neutral position, if not already in that position. As soon as the cooperating detents on the actuated lever and latch plate engage, the latch plate is moved back by the spring 55, toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1, and the pairs of cam surfaces 46 and 41 assist the individual centering springs in accurately positioning all non-actuated levers in neutral position.

It will thus be apparent that I have provided a simple and compact multiple switch structure. As previously mentioned, it is particularly adapted for controlling radio or television apparatus, since each operating handle 60 has at least two station-selecting positions. This reduces the total number of operating members that must be provided on the panel as compared to prior art preselector mechanisms employed for such purposes.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since various modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the cam and detent surfaces cooperating with each lever have been illustrated as formed by a pair of separated extensions 44 and 45, but it will be obvious that they may be forced in a single transverse portion integral with both side rails 4| and 42. Also, in the illustrated embodiment one of the surfaces defining each detent shown perpendicular to the plane of movement of its associated lever. Consequently, the lever is positively locked against disengagement and can only be released to neutral position by actuating another lever. However, obviously both surfaces defining each detent may be shaped to transmitv longitudinal forces to the latch plate 40 in response to forces tending either to engage or disengage the lever and detent. This may be desirable in some cases to permit any lever to be moved directly from one extreme position to the. other extreme position. Consequently, I contemplate by the appended claims to cover these and any other modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric switch mechanism comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable, switch-actuating members each of which has a first circuit-controlling position and at least two other circuit-controlling positions, a common latching means cooperating with all said members for latching any selected one of them in any of said other positions, means urging said latching means into engagement with said members, each of said members being effective upon selective operation thereof to force said latching means out of latching engagement with the other of said members as the operated member is moved between said first position and any of said other positions, spring means for individually moving each of said members into its first position from any of said other positions when it is disengaged from said latching means, and supporting means retaining said actuating members, latching means, urging means, and spring means in cooperating relationship.

2. An electric switch mechanism comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable, pivoted, switch-actuating levers having a common pivot, each lever having a neutral operating position and a pair of other operating positions, said other position being angularly spaced about said pivot on opposite sides of said neutral position, a common latch bar cooperating with all said levers, spring means urging said bar into engagement with said levers, said bar being adapted to latch each lever in either of said other positions, an individual three-position switch mechanism operatively connected to each lever for actuation thereby, each of said levers being effective upon selective operation thereof to force said latch bar out of latching engagement with the other of said levers during its path of movement between neutral position and either of said other positions, and spring means for individually returning each lever to its neutral position from either of said other positions when it is disengaged from said bar.

3. A multiple electric switch structure comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a plurality of selectively operable, switch-actuating levers pivotally supported side by side in said frame, each lever having a first operating position and two other operating positions angularly located on opposite sides of said first position, a common latch plate supported in said frame for sliding movement transversely of said levers, a spring urging said plate longitudinally in one direction, cooperating cam means on said plate and each of said levers for causing said plate to be moved longitudinally against said spring and out of latching engagement with all levers when any selected lever is moved between said first position and either of said other positions, cooperating detent means on said plate and each of said levers for holding any selected lever in either of said other positions, said plate being moved back by said spring toward engagement with all levers as the detent means on said selected lever moves into engagement with the corresponding detent means on said plate, and springs arranged to move each lever to said first position from either of said other positions when it is disengaged from said plate.

4. A multiple electric switch structure comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a plurality of similar, selectively operable switchactuating bars pivotally supported by said frame in spaced relationship along a common axis, each bar operatively engaging the movable element of a switch mechanism and carrying an operating handle for manually rocking it about said axis, said bars each having three operating positions correspondingly spaced angularly about said axis, a common latch member mounted in said frame for longitudinal sliding movement parallel to said axis, said latch member having portions adjacent each bar at one side thereof, spring means urging said member into engagement with said bars, each portion providing a wedge-shaped cam surface arranged to center one of said bars in intermediate position in conjunction with said spring means, each portion also providing a pair of detents arranged to engage and latch one of said bars in either of said other positions, said cam surfaces being shaped to cause longitudinal movement of said member to a position out of latching engagement with all of said bars in response to selective actuation of any bar between its intermediate position and either of said other positions, and spring means for moving each bar individually to intermediate position when it is disengaged from said member.

5. A multiple electric switch mechanism comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a plurality of switch-actuating levers pivoted on said frame for oscillatory movement in substantially parallel arcs about a common axis, each lever being operatively connected with a switch contact structure at one side of its pivot and carrying a manual operating handle at the other side of its pivot, each of said structures having three circuit-controlling position corresponding to intermediate and extreme positions of its actuating lever, a common latch plate mounted in said frame for longitudinal sliding movement parallel to said axis, said plate having pairs of complementary inclined cam surfaces, each pair being arranged to engage opposite edges of a lever for centering it in intermediate position, spring means urging said plate into engagement with said levers, said cam surfaces being shaped to cause longitudinal movement of said plate to a position out of latching engagement with all of said levers in response to selective actuation of any lever between its intermediate position and either extreme position, a first detent carried by each lever, and pairs of complementary detents carried by said plate, the detents of each pair being arranged selectively to engage one of said first detents in either of said extreme positions, and spring means individual to each lever for returning it to intermediate position from either direction when it is disengaged from said plate.

RAYMOND F. FOSTER. 

